The Contemplation of the Human Face in the Illustration of Sultan Sanjar and Old Woman by Mahmud Muzahib, Nezami Makhzan al-Asrar

The school of Bukhara painting emerged along with Herat painting and Behzad’s influences. Mahmud Muzahib, who was one of Behzad’s prominent students and came to Bukhara from Herat on the orders of Obeidolah Khan Usbek, together with some other artists combined the influences of Herat and Behzad with the features of local Bukhara painting and founded Bukhara painting with independent features. In Bukhara painting, more lyrical and historical themes were depicted. Concentrating on the main theme of history and ignoring the edges are the outstanding features of Bukhara painting. The aim of this research is to find out the course of changes of human face in the illustration of Sultan Sanjar and the old woman and to understand the similarities and differences. This investigation answers the question that how the human face is depicted in the illustrations from this period. What visual change has the human face undergone in the illustration of Makhzan al-Asrar by Mahmud Muzahib that is significant? The research method of the present study was descriptive-analytical and the data collection method was documentary (library). The analysis of the work is based on the visual principles and rules used in this illustration. The results show that this illustration is depicted with independent characteristics of Bukhara painting. Nevertheless, slight influences of Behzad can be seen in the drawn faces and landscape of this illustration. The artist has skillfully depicted this story and through the use of the elements used and the expression of emotions in the human faces, he has well rendered the relationship between the people and the description of the event.